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Senses -

Sex is a physical as well as an emotional experience. And as such, our entire bodies and minds are stimulated, including our senses.

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Senses -

While we tend to associate sex mostly with touch and sight, smell and taste also play a big role, and so does hearing.

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Fetishes -

A fetish can be broadly defined as an object, an action, or a condition that turns us on. There are a plethora of fetishes, from the simplest to the kinkiest, and many of us have them.

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Auralism -

Auralism can be described as a sound-based fetish. It’s essentially when certain sounds turn you on.

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Types of sound -

Do you get aroused when your partner makes certain sounds during sex? Well, that’s a common example of auralism.

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Types of sound -

Do you get aroused by listening to sounds that cause you a tingling sensation, known as ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response)? That’s auralism, too.

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Types of sound -

How about listening to audio erotica? If listening to it turns you on, then that is also a form of auralism.

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Types of sound -

In summary, auralism is when you get aroused by any type of sound; be it music, a voice, a noise, and so on.

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It’s a form of mindful sensuality -

"People that are specifically aroused by sounds are practicing mindful sensuality without even realizing it. The sounds that they find arousing are just as varied as the people themselves," says sexologist and educator Goody Howard.

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Sex differences -

Auralism seems to be more common in women than in men, who tend to get more aroused by visual stimuli.

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Exploring auralism -

Do you think auralism is for you? Do you want to tap into it? Here are a few tips on how you can explore auralism.

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Look it up -

Like anything else these days, when we want to learn more about something, we go online, and auralism is no different. Howard's suggestion is to "get some good headphones and fire up the Google machine to find some aural sites that catch your attention.”

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Listen to your partner during sex -

Pay close attention to the sounds of sex when you’re with your partner and how they make you feel—these can be really arousing.

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Listen to the sounds of sex -

Purposefully being mindful of the sounds during an intimate moment may seem strange at first, but try to listen to all the sounds your bodies make. You will find out that some sounds turn you on more than others.

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Get vocal -

Being vocal in bed can actually make your partner feel more confident. Not only do sounds and words provide feedback to your partner, they can also arouse them, and you.

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Get vocal -

"Use your words and sounds to express your pleasure, and don't be afraid to make noise," advises Howard. If you want to take things further, experiment with dirty talk.

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Be mindful of other people in the house -

Many of us don’t live alone. Being mindful of housemates or family is important, as you might not feel comfortable making loud noises. Playing music while you have sex can help mask the sounds to the outside, while you're able to still tune in to the sex sounds.

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Wet is best -

The sounds of lubrication can be really arousing. Do not be afraid of using extra lube. It will make sex feel and sound better.

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Play with sensory deprivation -

When one (or more) of our senses is deprived, the others become sharper. You can use this to your advantage when experimenting with auralism.

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Play with sensory deprivation -

Sight, in particular, plays a major role in sex, so blocking it will enhance your other senses, including your hearing. Wearing a blindfold can do the trick.

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Listen to erotic audio -

Audio erotica consists of sexually explicit audio stories. You can listen to these on apps, websites, etc. It’s like listening to a podcast, except it will likely turn you on.

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Listen to erotic audio -

“Using an audio-only platform allows the listener to use their imagination and conjure images that are tailored more to their specific preferences and desires,” says Madeline Concannon, an erotic storytelling app producer.

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Listen to podcasts -

But even listening to a regular podcast will also give you the opportunity to notice how you respond to certain voices.

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Give ASMR a try -

ASMR is a tingling response some people get from listening to certain sounds.

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Types of ASMR sounds -

These may include things such as whispering, crackling, scratching, turning pages, etc. If you’re curious if you’ll get a sexual response from any of these sounds, you can find plenty of ASMR videos on YouTube.

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Types of ASMR sounds -

There are also more sexually-oriented ASMR videos, which include sounds of moaning, massages, or even a condom wrapper being opened, etc.

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How ASMR works -

Many people listen to these because it makes them feel good, and some do get turned on by these sounds. "Sometimes the sounds bring flashbacks of a previous lover or sexual encounter. It's the tone, pitch, and timbre of sounds that stir the passions," explains Howard.

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Be mindful and intentional -

Being more mindful of your senses in your daily life can help you fine-tune your personal relationship with sex. This includes, of course, hearing. Being aware of the sounds of breathing is a good starting point.

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Be open-minded about it -

Whether you get turned on by a song, a sound, or an erotic story, it’s important to accept and enjoy it. Learn to embrace your inner auralist and don’t be ashamed of making the most out of one of your senses.

Sources: (mindbodygreen) (Volonté) (Sound Desires: Auralism, the Sexual Fetishization of Music)

See also: This is what happens to your body when you don't have sex

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